The two of them sat down on the food street outside the university. The grilled-fish place was open-air, with patio umbrellas put up whenever it rained. They had barely ordered when Yang Shuyi received a call. From the sound of it, someone was asking about getting a SIM card, going on and on with endless questions. Shao Wu unwrapped both sets of tableware, asked the owner for a kettle of boiling water to rinse them, then poured water for himself and Yang Shuyi. By the time he finished all that, Yang Shuyi was still on the phone, apparently discussing internet installation now.
Shao Wu could only prop his chin on his hand and wait for him, as well as for the food. Raindrops pattered against the umbrella overhead in a dense, pleasant rhythm. It was nearly eight. Every so often, Shao Wu glanced at Yang Shuyi and saw the faintest crease between his brows, his expression intent without a trace of impatience.
“Sure, no problem… Room 402, right? Mm, mm… I’ll come over before nine. Okay.”
Yang Shuyi’s voice was low and unhurried, focused and gentle.
At last, before the second cold dish arrived, Yang Shuyi hung up.
Shao Wu heard him let out a quiet, measured breath.
“Business is that good?” Shao Wu asked with a smile.
“A lot of people have been getting internet installed lately.” Yang Shuyi picked up a bite of fish mint with his chopsticks and chewed as he spoke. “I have to go to their dorms to set it up. It’s a little troublesome.”
Elio’s Notes: Fish mint, or zhe’ergen (折耳根), is Houttuynia cordata, a pungent herb commonly eaten in southwestern China.
“Oh. You know how to install internet lines too?”
“Just learned a while ago.” Yang Shuyi smiled. “The commission for installing internet is a little higher than for SIM cards.”
“Oh…”
“I have to go set it up in their dorm later. Are you in a hurry to head back? If you’re not, I’ll take care of theirs first. If you are, I’ll do yours first.”
“What would I be in a hurry for?” Shao Wu shook his head. “Take care of theirs first.”
In fact, Shao Wu was even a little pleased, because this meant he could stay with Yang Shuyi longer.
A large grass carp arrived, split in half and grilled flat and crisp. Oil crackled from the skin, the fish sitting in a thick bed of minced garlic.
Yang Shuyi asked, “Busy lately?”
“Not too bad. You know how my major is.” Shao Wu carefully bit off a piece of fish; it was a little hot. “There’s only so much they can teach us in class. Most of it depends on studying by yourself.”
“Aren’t you minoring in geography too?”
“Mm… now that you mention it.” Shao Wu lowered his eyes to the charred skin of the fish. “Have you guys taken phytogeography?”
“We have.”
“Our professor wants us to collect specimens. It’s such a hassle. There are some plants our campus doesn’t have… I might have to come look around your university.”
“Mm, that’s true.” Yang Shuyi spoke absently. “If you really can’t find them, you could also try Jinyun Mountain.”
Shao Wu licked his lips. The grilled fish suddenly seemed unexpectedly salty.
“I’ll probably… probably start looking after the holiday,” he said, knowing he was about to lie. “If I come over then, will you be free?”
Before Yang Shuyi could answer, Shao Wu hurriedly added, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to find anything. Your university is way too big… But if you’re busy, that’s fine too…”
Every time, Shao Wu could always find some reason to travel from Shapingba to Beibei to see Yang Shuyi. He had almost grown accustomed to that guilty feeling.
Anyway, Yang Shuyi doesn’t know a thing, and he doesn’t sense a thing.
“We’ll see when the time comes.” Sure enough, Yang Shuyi answered in his usual noncommittal way. “If I’m free, I’ll help you look.”
“Mm, okay.” Shao Wu curved his lips into a smile at him. “Thanks.”
Yang Shuyi shook his head, meaning there was no need to thank him.
Just like that, their next meeting was more or less settled. Shao Wu knew the routine by now. If he wanted to see Yang Shuyi, Friday was best because there were fewer classes scheduled that day, most students went out, and fewer people came looking for Yang Shuyi to get SIM cards or change phone plans. Weekends were definitely out because Yang Shuyi worked part-time at the computer mall. Shao Wu had even thought it through: if Yang Shuyi happened to be busy when he came, he would simply return another time. The excuse of “looking for specimens” could easily be used two or three times.
Sometimes Shao Wu thought he was very clever. By minoring in geography, he had gained a whole pile of excuses to see Yang Shuyi and talk to him. Of course, most of the time, Shao Wu also knew he was pretty stupid.
After dinner, Shao Wu first followed Yang Shuyi to the China Mobile outlet to pick up the network cable, then went with him to the women’s dormitory. It was still raining. Yang Shuyi carried the cable in one hand and a toolbox in the other, while Shao Wu held the umbrella beside him. Southwest University had many trees and plenty of shade. The streetlights seemed blurred by the fine rain, casting a dim glow. Shao Wu could not help thinking that if Yang Shuyi had gone alone to install internet in a dorm while it was raining, and Chongqing rained often, wouldn’t he have had to walk through the rain?
“Shao Wu,” Yang Shuyi suddenly said, “the umbrella’s crooked.”
“Huh?” Shao Wu snapped back to himself and hurriedly tilted the umbrella farther toward Yang Shuyi, thinking, The network cable Yang Shuyi’s carrying didn’t get wet, did it?
“I mean, you’re getting rained on, aren’t you?”
“Uh, it’s fine… Just be careful the cable doesn’t get wet.”
“It’s wrapped in plastic.” Yang Shuyi seemed to laugh. Beneath the dark trees, Shao Wu could not see his expression. “This is better.”
Yang Shuyi lifted the arm holding the toolbox and put it around Shao Wu’s shoulders.
Shao Wu’s muscles instantly went rigid. At the same time, he cursed himself inwardly, Pathetic.
It’s not even the first time.
Yang Shuyi’s wrist rested across Shao Wu’s shoulders, the toolbox hanging outside Shao Wu’s shoulder, its hard corner lightly pressing against him. Their bodies drew closer, and Shao Wu could feel the warmth coming from Yang Shuyi.
“Yang Shuyi, you…” Shao Wu asked, thinking he sounded perfectly calm, “what are you doing for May Day?”
“Going home, probably.”
“Going home?” That’s strange. Yang Shuyi is actually going home? He’s not working?
“Longlong has a parent-teacher meeting… Grandma went last time, but she couldn’t understand what the teacher was telling her. I have to go this time.”
“Oh.”
“What about you?” Yang Shuyi’s breath brushed Shao Wu’s temple, almost as though his lips were touching the rim of Shao Wu’s ear.
Shao Wu did not want to go home. Ever since the acceptance letter from Chongqing University had arrived two years ago, his parents always looked worried whenever they faced him. Shao Wu knew they loved him, but they truly were disappointed in him too. The two things did not contradict each other. So Shao Wu preferred staying at school, a kind of self-deceptive avoidance.
“I…” But Yang Shuyi was going home. If Shao Wu went back with him, they could go to the bus station together and take the coach to Yongchuan together. In other words, Shao Wu would get to spend most of the day with Yang Shuyi. On the road, with nothing they had to do, just the two of them for most of a day.
“I’ll probably go back too,” Shao Wu answered softly.
“Sure. We’ll go together then.”
“Mm.”